Concussion Laws — Implications for the Camp Community

Summer 2014 Update

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is caused by a blow or motion to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. A concussion is a mild form of traumatic brain injury. The risk of catastrophic injuries or death can be significant especially in youth athletes when a concussion or head injury is not properly evaluated or managed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), concussions are one of the most commonly reported injuries in children and adolescents who participate in sports and recreational activities. Their data estimates that as many as 3,900,000 sports-related and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year.

Who is Zackery Lystedt and Why is a Law Named for Him?

Zackery Lystedt was a middle-school football player who suffered a debilitating concussion in October 2006. Three years later, the state of Washington adopted the Zackery Lystedt Law. The law requires athletes under the age of eighteen who are suspected of having sustained a concussion to be removed from practice or a game — and not allowed to return — until they have obtained a written return-to-play authorization from a medical professional trained in the diagnosis and management of concussions. The law also stipulates that parents and athletes must read and sign a head injury information sheet annually.

Similar laws have subsequently been passed in other states. In fact, every state now has some form of youth sports concussions law.

Applicability to the Camp Community

While camp programs are generally not held to the requirements of these state concussion laws (unless they conduct a youth sports program, such as a soccer or football camp), the practices and safety measures contained within them are still important to consider.

The American Camp Association (ACA) produced "The Healthy Camp Study Impact Report[14]" in 2011, which indicated that 23.6 percent of injuries to campers and 18.5 percent of injuries to staff were in the head/face/neck region of the body. Prevention of head injuries is such a critical issue that ACA standards for accredited camps require helmets to be worn for all participants participating in: